Bruno Senna to Test for Honda

Nephew of legend Ayrton, Bruno takes a step closer to Formula one

Nov 11, 2008 Steve Garland

Bruno Senna will test for Honda at Barcelona next month in hope of earning a drive with the team for 2009.

Honda boss Ross Brawn has offered Bruno the chance after an impressive year in Formula one's GP2 series where Senna finished second.

Brawn said: "This will be a chance for Bruno to prove he is ready to make the step up to formula one.

Nephew of Formula One legend, Ayrton Senna, Bruno looks set to replace fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello at Honda as the team look to be more competitive in 2009.

Despite being linked with Toro Rosso earlier in the season it now looks as though Honda is the most likely option for Bruno who will return the famous Senna name to Formula One, ironically Honda being the engine his uncle Ayrton won his world championships with.

Senna gets his shot at Formula one.

Senna spoke of his excitement of the opportunity: "I am obviously very excited about being given my first formula one test, and to have that opportunity with Honda is a dream come true.

"I have wanted to test an F1 car for a very long time - and I feel I am ready for that challenge."

Bruno only in his fourth year of motor racing

Senna is still only in his fourth year of motor racing, having given up the sport after his uncles death in 1994. As a result many have said that Senna has missed out on the important teenage years of development in the sport and doubt whether it is his ability or just his name that is giving him the chance in Formula One.

But Ross Brawn would surely not give a chance to a driver who was not capable and has said: ""Our objective is to have the best drivers available to us next season, and our evaluation of Bruno's performance will be rigorous."

Honda need to be more competitive in 2009.

Jenson Button looks set to continue in his drive at Honda, as for yet another year Button has had to wait for Honda to provide him with a competitive car, leaving Formula Ones most experienced driver Rubens Barrichello the most likely to make way for Senna.

"We want to look at some new guys." Honda CEO Nick Fry tells autosport.com

"Rubens is 100 percent aware of the situation. He knows he is in with a chance but he knows we want to evaluate other people as well, so I think he has been very grown up about it."

Toro Rosso remain interested in Senna but look most likely to go with either Sebastian Buemi or Takuma Sato as a replacement for the outgoing Sebastian Vettel.

2009 will already be a season of undoubted change and excitement with the new regulations being put in place, but the return of the Senna name to Formula One would add further excitement to the new season.

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Senna eyes Formula One